Next S class-W223?
 

Will the next generation S class be called the W223? If not, what will the nomenclature be? My favorite S class of all time is the W221.

I don't know I still don't understand why Mercedes-Benz jumped from W140 to W220 , it was quite weird to me . Name wise I like W222 better but nothing beats majestic look of the W221

I agree, and still LOVE this car.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...fc828d7cd.jpeg

https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...3447410918.jpg

https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...2331573303.jpg

:)

Thanks for posting the pictures. Stunning looking car. Seems to me if I remember correctly, the trunk space was a lot better in the 221. Am I correct? If the 221 had the headlight system of the 222, it would be perfect.

I don't know why they went from W140 to W220 either, but the Chrysler marriage should have been annulled after the wedding reception. That was the darkest days of Daimler's history. I had a 2000 W220 and was extremely unimpressed.

Yes, the next model is going to be the 223.

Thanks.

The dramatic code change was due to the face that the W140 was not in any way related to the W220. When Mercedes uses the same platform/architecture/philosophy from the previous model, the model codes tend to say that same. W126, W140 and W220 was a lot of change and nothing was related. The W221 to W222 wasn't that big of a change fundamentally. The W220's dismal quality and reliability pre-facelift had nothing to do with Chrysler, it was all Jürgen Schrempp' desire to put a Benz in everyone's garage by making them cheap as sh. I wouldn't touch any Benz designed or that debuted between 1998-2006. Low quality abounds.

M

Sounds like a fine explanation to me. I definitely agree with the 1998-2006 statement. However, the CLK coupe and convertibles would , in my opinion , be the exception. They were fine automobiles. Sorry I can't state the nomenclature for these two cars I'm referring to but I had one of them in 2002. It was a CLK 320 convertible for my wife.

I agree, I had a CLK430 Cabriolet and I loved the car. While not faultless it didn't have the problems the W220 had. The W220 being far more advanced. The CLK was actually conceived and developed before the quality downturn.

M

Thanks :) You are very correct! I can fit multiple bodies, about 3. That's the problem with the the latest year, the trunk shrunk and I couldn't use it for golf with my friends, unless it's a pre 2018. The 2010+ model w221 did get better headlights that are much much better than the 07-09.

Here is some additional info/rationale...
Outside the US the W140 had a poor reputation even though it sold well overall. The car was considered too large, too old school and too expensive to manufacture. The W220 in Europe/Germany on the other hand was considered a modern, sleek luxury car. It also sold better than the W140...
The W220 was supposed to be lighter and produce a profit margin. There was a lot of new tech in the car but much of it was immature and caused many owners to curse these cars.
1. Intro of water-based paint process & prep turned many into rust buckets. Ver un-mercedes-like... Unbeknownst to many, MB actually paid for full rust fix/re-paint even beyond the 4 year MB warranty.
2. Airmatic/ABC suspensions. Lots of issues. Even lacked internal maintenance & test procedures leading to decaying component with pricey repairs.
3. Lots of new electronics/comand. The W220 was plagued by sensor malfunctions. Mercedes here was as good as their vendors providing components. This should have been better addressed by MB
4. Crap plastic interior. Even through the W140 had plenty of plastic in the interior, it felt like quality. The focus on the W220 was to reduce weight, not quality, but they definitely failed. We had a custom-order W220 cancelled after seeing one in then flesh and switched to a CL500 coupe.

The use of some crap plastics made the cars of the period feel lower quality but it was often the immaturity of the electronics that were the culprits.

At the time, none of this really came at a cost to the buyers but Mercedes took a huge it in warranty-related repairs. So much that they killed their free maintenance programs. In case one wonders why they have to pay for A & B services or have to negotiate pre-paid programs into the sale, this is why...

That said, there was no low quality feel at all with our CL500 and SL55 during that period.

The W140 was known as the most over-engineered car in history and I loved the one I had. I miss that car very much.